Mediagazer: Spotify says it is testing a pilot of audiobooks on the platform, with nine public-domain titles read by well-known names like Hilary Swank (Nathan Ingraham/Engadget)

1:50 PM ET, January 25, 2021

Top News:

Joe Pompeo / Vanity Fair:

Sources: NYT told Lauren Wolfe, who had a temporary position, that her name and NYT's name were in headlines after her “chills” tweet, and “we can't have that” — The paper of record's treatment of a freelance editor getting “chills” on Twitter drew accusations …

Discussion: @miriamelder, @jayrosen_nyu, @froomkin, @brianstelter, @mlcalderone, Jill Filipovic, The Wrap, WWD and Conquest of the Useless

Marisa Sarnoff / Mediaite:

NYT reportedly cancels the contract of an editor after her tweets about having “chills” watching Biden's plane land drew criticism, mostly from conservatives — The New York Times has reportedly terminated the contract of an editor who tweeted that she had “chills” …

Joe Flint / Wall Street Journal:

NBC's Peacock signs a deal for exclusive streaming rights for WWE Network content in the US from March; source says the deal runs five years and is worth $1B+ — World Wrestling Entertainment content will move to Peacock starting March 18 in deal worth more than $1 billion

Archie Bland / The Guardian:

Forbes drops plans for a trip to Bermuda for 75 people on its “30 under 30” list, meant to provide an escape from pandemic “gloom”, after facing criticism — Invitation for people on magazine's ‘30 under 30’ list is dropped hours after Guardian inquiry

Discussion: @rachel, @harrybaker_md, @alexandrianeas, @caredunton, @timothynoah1, @kaylapekkala, @davejorgenson, @unlandedgentry, @perlberg, @archiebland, @archiebland, @mathewi, @thrasherxy and @chick_in_kiev

Russell Contreras / Axios:

Ex-CNN exec S. Mitra Kalita and PA radio exec Sara Lomax-Reese launch URL Media, a newsletter seeking to expand local news on Black and brown communities — Former CNN executive S. Mitra Kalita and Philadelphia radio executive Sara Lomax-Reese have launched a newsletter seeking to expand local news …

Discussion: @mitrakalita, @russcontreras, @cande313, @amlwhere, @kainazamaria, @rosental, @dawnc331, @ampalm, @ccmnewmarkj, @eramshaw, @schmalie and @raju

Meg James / Los Angeles Times:

Inside CBS' fraught investigation into allegations of racism and misogyny on the part of CBS Television Stations President Peter Dunn and another senior exec — Gripped by scandal in the summer of 2018, CBS came up with a way to contain the crisis. — The television giant's board hired …

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, TVSpy, @deggans, @jimmydonofrio, @ckrewson, @latimes, @davidcayj, @katiefehlinger, @mattdpearce, @deggans, @latimes and @megjameslat

Robert P. Baird / Columbia Journalism Review:

An in-depth look at Laurene Powell Jobs' Emerson Collective, which a source says has spent $250M on journalism, buying stakes in The Atlantic, Axios, and others — With the Emerson Collective, Laurene Powell Jobs is becoming a force in American media. What is she trying to achieve?

Discussion: @cjr, @pennyriordan1, @_meher, @raju, @mathewi, @teddyschleifer, @zunguzungu and @cjr

Sara Fischer / Axios:

Content recommendation company Taboola says it has agreed to go public via a SPAC, valuing the company at $2.6B and raising $545M — Taboola, the content recommendation company known best for the chum box ads at the bottom of publishers' websites, has agreed to merge with special purpose …

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget:

Spotify says it is testing a pilot of audiobooks on the platform, with nine public-domain titles read by well-known names like Hilary Swank — Initial titles include ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Jane Eyre.’ — Spotify's aggressive move into content beyond music continues today …

Discussion: Hollywood Reporter, @pennyfractions, @natjarv, @amyxwang, @dada_drummer, @lucas_shaw, The Verge and @kerrymflynn

Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:

Nexstar to rebrand its national cable channel WGN America as NewsNation, positioning it as a “fact-based and unbiased” competitor to CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC — As part of the rebrand, NewsNation will add two hours of live coverage from 6-8 p.m. hosted by Nichole Berlie and Joe Donlon, respectively.

Discussion: TVNewser, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, nexttv.com, @fraying, @jayrosen_nyu, @alexweprin, @daveleeft and @vexedinthecity

Politico:

White House says it will work with WHCA to develop new standards for media passes and won't tolerate outlets trafficking in conspiracy theories and propaganda — Some Trump loving members of the press corps are eager to get access to the Biden White House.

Discussion: NPR, Mercury News, Financial Times, CNN, Roll Call, @mrjohnnicolson, @ccadelago, Bangor Daily News, @ccadelago, WTOP, @oliverdarcy and New York Post

Margit Wennmachers / Andreessen Horowitz:

a16z plans to launch a “new and separate media property” later this year focused on “the future” and names ex-CNN editor Maggie Leung executive editor — We embraced speaking directly to our audience — from the builders of the future to the tech-curious — right as the firm was started in 2009.

Discussion: Talking Biz News, Business Insider, @a16z, @smc90, @thekenyeung, @andrewchen, @bhorowitz, @panzer and @wennmachers, more at Techmeme »

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